Michelson (crater)
Encyclopedia
Michelson is a crater
on the far side of the Moon
. It lies along the northeastern outer rim of the huge walled plain Hertzsprung
, and to the southwest of the crater Kolhörster
.
This is a heavily eroded crater formation with multiple impacts along the rim edge and within the interior. The rim is roughly circular, but has been rendered relatively uneven due to these smaller craters. There are small craters across the interior floor, including impacts along the north, west and southeastern edges.
To the southeast of the outer rim is a crater chain that has been designated Catena Michelson. This feature is radial to the Mare Orientale
impact basin, and passes near the outer rim of the crater Grachev
.
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
on the far side of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. It lies along the northeastern outer rim of the huge walled plain Hertzsprung
Hertzsprung (crater)
Hertzsprung is an enormous lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, beyond the western limb. In dimension, this formation is larger than several of the lunar mare areas on the near side. It lies in the northwestern fringe of the blast radius of the Mare Orientale impact basin...
, and to the southwest of the crater Kolhörster
Kolhörster (crater)
Kolhörster is a lunar crater that is located on the moon's far side. It lies about a crater-diameter to the south-southeast of the crater Kamerlingh Onnes, and to the northeast of the crater Michelson. To the south of Kolhörster is an area marked with crater chains formed from secondary impacts...
.
This is a heavily eroded crater formation with multiple impacts along the rim edge and within the interior. The rim is roughly circular, but has been rendered relatively uneven due to these smaller craters. There are small craters across the interior floor, including impacts along the north, west and southeastern edges.
To the southeast of the outer rim is a crater chain that has been designated Catena Michelson. This feature is radial to the Mare Orientale
Mare Orientale
Mare Orientale is one of the most striking large scale lunar features, resembling a target ring bull's-eye. Located on the extreme western edge of the lunar nearside, this impact basin is difficult to see from an Earthbound perspective.Material from this basin was not sampled by the Apollo program...
impact basin, and passes near the outer rim of the crater Grachev
Grachev (crater)
Grachev is a lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the northwest of the Mare Orientale impact basin, in the outer skirt of ejecta surrounding the Montes Cordillera mountain ring. Passing along the southwestern edge of Grachev is the Catena Michelson, a valley-like formation...
.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Michelson.Michelson | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|
G | 5.7° N | 118.8° W | 27 km |
H | 4.6° N | 116.8° W | 35 km |
V | 8.0° N | 124.4° W | 20 km |
W | 7.5° N | 121.3° W | 25 km |